Rahul Gandhi's sabbatical: Congress in damage control mode, says he'll be back in 2 weeks

New Delhi, Feb 24: After news of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's sabbatical and rumours of all is not well in the grand old party of India started doing the rounds in the media, the party came in a damage control mode on Tuesday and clarified that the Gandhi scion is on a two-weeks leave.

"Rahul Gandhi on 2 weeks leave," said Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala but steered clear of questions whether he is in India or abroad.

It is being said that Rahul is not happy with excessive interference and that is main reason for his sudden sabbatical. Sources said that a number of measures like opening up Youth Congress to elections was not welcomed by sections of the party. Gandhi wanted to implement several new ideas in the party, which failed to see the light of the day.

The Congress vice president was keen that the practice of high command making key appointments in the party is done away with. He also favoured election to the top posts including in Congress Working Committee, where nomination has been the way so far.

Gandhi's idea to hold primaries in election going seats was given a go-by after his experiment failed in Lok Sabha with none of the Congress candidates winning in 16 Parliamentary seats, where he had brought in US-style primary mode to elect candidates.

Party sources close to Gandhi said there could be more clarity on issues, when he puts forth his "plan of action" at the AICC meet. Gandhi has always given indications that he feels that Congress like other parties is not doing enough to empower the workers at the grass root. The Congress vice president vented his anguish on party forums as well as outside giving the impression of someone not satisfied with the system surrounding him.